gnaw
(redirected from gnawable)Also found in: Thesaurus.
gnaw
(nô)v. gnawed, gnaw·ing, gnaws
v.tr.
1.
a. To bite, chew on, or erode with the teeth.
b. To produce by gnawing: gnaw a hole.
c. To erode or diminish gradually as if by gnawing: waves gnawing the rocky shore.
2. To afflict or worry persistently: fear that constantly gnawed me.
v.intr.
1. To bite or chew persistently: The dog gnawed at the bone.
2. To cause erosion or gradual diminishment.
3. To cause persistent worry or pain: Hunger gnawed at the prisoners.
[Middle English gnauen, from Old English gnagan.]
gnaw′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
gnaw
(nɔː)vb, gnaws, gnawing, gnawed, gnawed or gnawn (nɔːn)
1. (when: intr, often foll by at or upon) to bite (at) or chew (upon) constantly so as to wear away little by little
2. (tr) to form by gnawing: to gnaw a hole.
3. to cause erosion of (something)
4. (when: intr, often foll by at) to cause constant distress or anxiety (to)
n
the act or an instance of gnawing
[Old English gnagan; related to Old Norse gnaga, Old High German gnagan]
ˈgnawable adj
ˈgnawer n
ˈgnawing adj, n
ˈgnawingly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
gnaw
(nɔ)v.t.
1. to bite or chew on, esp. persistently: The kitten gnawed the slippers.
2. to wear away or remove by persistent biting.
3. to form by gnawing: to gnaw a hole.
4. to waste or wear away.
5. to trouble or torment by constant annoyance; vex; plague.
v.i. 6. to bite or chew persistently.
7. to cause corrosion.
8. to cause an effect resembling corrosion: Her mistake gnawed at her conscience.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English gnagen, c. Old Saxon gnagan, Old High German (g)nagan, Old Norse gnaga]
gnaw′a•ble, adj.
gnaw′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
gnaw
Past participle: gnawed/gnawn
Gerund: gnawing
Imperative |
---|
gnaw |
gnaw |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Verb | 1. | gnaw - bite or chew on with the teeth; "gnaw an old cracker" chew, manducate, masticate, jaw - chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth; "He jawed his bubble gum"; "Chew your food and don't swallow it!"; "The cows were masticating the grass" bite, seize with teeth - to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws; "Gunny invariably tried to bite her" |
2. | gnaw - become ground down or deteriorate; "Her confidence eroded" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
gnaw
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
gnaw
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَقرِض، يَقضِم بِصَوت عالي
hryzatokousávat
gnave
jäytääjyrsiäkalvaa
glodati
rágrágcsál
naga
graužiantis
grauzt
hrýzť
glodatipreglodati se
kemirmek
gnaw
[nɔː]A. VT (= chew, also fig) → roer, carcomer
gnawed by doubts/hunger → atormentado por las dudas/el hambre
gnawed by doubts/hunger → atormentado por las dudas/el hambre
gnaw off VT + ADV → roer
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
gnaw
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
gnaw
[nɔː]Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
gnaw
(noː) verb to bite or chew with a scraping movement. The dog was gnawing a large bone; The mice have gnawed holes in the walls of this room.
gnawing adjective annoying; disturbing. a gnawing problem.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.